“Well, I have learned one thing from my latest in a series of the ever-appearing speed bumps of life — 75 is NOT the new 50” — Jimmy Buffett to New York Times writer Maureen Dowd.

• “Thinking younger doesn’t quite do it. You still have to do the hard work of, as the Toby Keith song says, ‘Don’t let the old man in.’ And that is my job now, the way I see it.”

It’s work.  A Plan.  The ability to finish.  Start again when you fail.

• Age alone does not define a person’s age – their ability to “do the hard work” does and that applies to all ages from young to old.

• Many of my NYU students this new semester are battling the fine balance between pursuing their life happiness and making their parents happy – it’s not just an adolescent problem.
• Non-students have the same issues as close friends, work associates and even family can cause stress of moving forward.
• Think if it like this – you are flying the plane, those who matter to you in life are giving advice – in the end, it’s rightfully your decision.
• When I told my dad I didn’t want to go to college and wanted to be radio dj, he said “you’re going to college” and will be the smartest dj on the air.
• In the end, I took his advice and never looked back – after all, it was my decision to make, he was my advisor.
• Trying to please others is another way to guarantee unhappiness – the person who needs to be pleased is you and any doubters will become believers the moment you believe.

• I’m excited, classes are underway at NYU and this fall in my Stress-free Living and Working in the Music Industry class, my friend Les Garland (onetime programmer of MTV), is bringing his latest discovery to class – Stella Mabry.
• She’s 14 and has utilized her interest in song writing and performing to strike back against the “Mean Girl” who bullied her.
• She will be a hit with young students who have to deal with unprecedented social media bullying head on.
• There are many ways to fight back against bullies. Stella’s approach is to channel her anxiety into doing the common good which inspires others.
• Here is Stella’s video.

• In nature, we become like the people who surround us.
• For animals, often they blend in with their environment for safety reasons and to avoid larger predators – as evidenced by any rattlesnake on Camelback mountain – they blend in.
• Environment matters – people who are raised on manners tend to be more courteous, children of good listeners tend to listen to others in their conversations.
• That’s why it’s imperative that we seek out and nurture relationships with people with whom we share common values.
• It’s not necessary to be around people with your exact same personality just ones that value what you do.
• Empowerment comes from people who share common values.

• Q Score is how the entertainment industry measures consumer appeal for performers, among other things.
• The higher the Q Score, the more highly regarded the person is to the general public.
• This is not just a popularity contest because one can be popular without being highly regarded – it’s a means of judging who has credibility that influences.
• It comes down to whether others have a positive opinion of you.
• I have often wondered what would happen if non-performers could test their own Q Scores.
• The best way to assure you remain highly regarded is to focus on being authentic as authenticity is the salve that helps make modern society work.

Who is the most important person in your life?

Have you told them lately?

If words aren’t your thing, actions work well.

Even if they are no longer with you, say it out loud.

The odd thing is when you empower someone by showing immense gratitude you empower yourself – every time.

The world is being numbed by digital devices and social media where in-person interaction is strained.

Look them in the eye and tell them that they are the most important person to you.

Continue being the fine person you are.

You win some, you lose some.

You never win everything and even though it sometimes feels like it your losing streak does not last forever.

Truth is what goes up will go down which is why life is like a roller coaster.

You can’t stop the highs and lows but you can learn to ride them better knowing that life isn’t one winning (or losing) streak.

To build resilience when times are tough, never lose sight of the next high.

Be the fine person you are.

Don’t blame yourself for bad decisions.

No one is perfect.

You will never meet a person who has made all the right choices.

We learn from our mistakes.

There is no need to punish yourself twice.

Embrace the things you do right.

Be the fine person you are.

We encourage others to persevere.

Tell our kids that they can do what they set their minds to.

I never met a person who didn’t think they deserved a raise.

Every time we place a bet, we hope to win.

Self-doubt is a losing bet that we place on ourselves even before we begin.

Hope is what motivates us in every other way.

Today, replace self-doubt with self-hope.

Be the fine person you are.

Smiling at the first ten people you see each day without saying a word has two benefits.

One, many smile back.

Two, no matter how many respond to your silent approval, you’ve just boosted your mood to start the day.

It’s a dress rehearsal for creating happiness.

I assign this as a stretching exercise in my stress class where many discover for the first time that practicing looking happy precedes waiting for something good to happen.

NOTE:  Cheryl and I are going to take a few days off to recharge our batteries before NYU resumes in-person classes again in a few weeks and the media industry revs up to end a challenging year.  This seems like a good time.  A good time to catch up on some stories you may have missed.   See you in a few days — Monday August 28.